Scott County leaders could be changing their policy that allows some employees to drive county-owned cars home.
Among those employees are sheriff's deputies, who have parked their squad cars at home since 1997.
"As soon as they get in the car and start driving, they radio that they're on duty and available for calls," said Sheriff Dennis Conard.
Conard wants to see the take-home policy continue. He says it allows the department to double its manpower during every shift change. In addition, during emergencies, those squad cars can mean quicker response times.
Since December 11, 2015, Scott County deputies have reported using their assigned vehicle outside of their normal shift more than 100 times.
"We had a shooting that started in Davenport, ended in Bettendorf. We had nine squad cars there within a few minutes," said Conard, referring to an active shooter situation in October 2015.
The Scott County Board of Supervisors plans to revisit that policy, though.
On Thursday, February 25, 2016, members will be voting on whether or not to hire a fleet manager to examine all of the county's vehicles. Board chairman Jim Hancock says he expects to tackle the issue of take-home vehicles sometime after that.
"That decision will absolutely be made," said Hancock.
Eliminating take-home cars would mean a much smaller fleet to maintain. Although he supported the purchase of a take-home fleet back in 1997, Hancock says it's time to take another look.
"What I'm open to is making sure, because we do have a $13 million asset, that we look at it... that we honestly take a hard look. I am not one way or the other on either side of the issue at this point," said Hancock.
Meanwhile, Sheriff Conard argues that each car is worth the cost.
"It's an expense, but an expense that is offset by the benefits," he said.
Thursday's meeting starts at 5 p.m. at the Scott County Administrative Center.